The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1887-08-28
CRUISE OF THE .MANZANITA."
From Astoria to the Arctic Circle

From Astoria to the Arctic Circle
The u. s. steamer Mdnzdnitd ar
rived in yesterday from the far north
. in charge of first officer Richardson
and docked at the Main street wharf
Lieut.. Sebree and party left the yes,
sci at Seattle and proceeded overland
to Portland. She was visited yester-
day afternoon by a large number OF
people. The stem Of the vessel shows
the effect of chance encounters with
the ice in Glacier bay.
The Mdnzdnita left here on her
Alaskan cruise on July 18th, and did
considerable work on this trip. The
officers report splendid time, chief
engineer Peak saying that this, his
sixth voyage to those waters, was
the most enjoyable and successful OF
any.
The vessel has many curlos and
mementos OF the trip in the shape of
Alaskan native handiwork, including
kyaks, canoes, totems, bracelets made
from silver dollar pieces, mocasins,
baskets, bows, arrows, paddles,
knives, forks, spoons, pipes, dolls,
mats, etc. The trip was made under
the most favorable auspices; starting
from Victoria under the guidance OF
pilot Francis the vessel steamed
northward through Seymour Mar
rows, a rightly dreaded passage
where the huge volume OF the north
4 Pacific tide rushes at ten-knot rate
through the narrow pass, and on to
Hope Island, where a great potlatch
and powow was in progress. From
there to Swanson bay, the buoys and
beacons along the route being care
fully noted. At Carter's bay, in
north lat. So, west Ion. 100, a halt was
made. Here lies buried Carter, Ad-
miral ,Vancouver's carpenter, and
every visiting vessels crew decorates
his grave. From there through
Grenviile Channel and Chatham
Sound, where the MdnzGnitG fell in
with the English man-of-war Caro-
line with Admiral Seymour on
board, through Tongas Narrows.
where A. w. Berry has a cannery,
aud after placing a buoy on Califor-
MIA rock, continuing northward,
dropping over to Hassan village,
where stand 50 great totems, some Of
them 75 and so feet high, the largest
collection Of the kind in Alaska; from
there to Pt. Stanhope, and the mouth
OF the Stickin river, where there is
another cannery, very near which is
an immense reef OF micaceous slate
STUDDED WITH GARNETs,
Presenting a very singular appear
ance. The MGnzdnitG brought back
several fine specimens OF this curious
formation. Through Wrangel Mar
rows, full of buoys and beacons.
where the Caroline stood off towards
Juneau, and up through Peril
Straits, where the ManzanitG put
down several beacons aud spindles.
These spindles are used to locate
rocks that are covered at high water,
and, undesignated, give no token of
their dangerous presence. AT low
tide, when the rock is entirely bare,
a landing is made, large hole drilled
in the rock two feet in depth in
which is set and securely clamped an
iron rod or bar 20 feet high and 21f
inches in diameter, to the top of
which is swung a sheet-iron cage
painted white, thus denoting the pres
ence OF sunken rock.
Thence the cruise extended to
KIllisnoo. full Of quaint specimens of
Indian life, and after placing a spin
die on Hannas reef, the MdRzdnitG
dropped anchor in lonely Hoonah
herbor. Still northward through
Glacier bay, full OF ice, placing a
spindle in Vanderbilt rock, and halt
ing at William Henry Harbor, the
southernmost limit OF the arctic ci=-
Gle and the farthest north reached
by the vessel on this trip. The re-
turn was devoid of incident.
At juneau black bear of the male
persuasion, was obtained. He Is
about eight months old, and answers
to the name OF Willie. He is what
Artemas Ward would call ian amoos-
in little cuss," and is great sport to
everyone on board the MGnzdnitG.
1t is q funny sight to see willie"
help himself to q drink from the
water keg, then capering up the rig
ging sniff the wind and look wise.
OF ALL THE CURIosITIEs
Brought back, the most singular is
the micaceous slate, studded with
deep red garnets.
"Not that they are so very rich or rare.
The wonders how the d. they got
there"
They are octagonal and are as thick
in the glistening gray shale as raisins
in a rice pudding.
The officers say that Alaska is alive
with tourists. Every nook and cor
ner trayersed by the passenger steam.
ers has been visited, and curiosities
are eagerly bought at any price the
native manufacturers see fit 10 ask
for them. A carved stick is one dol
lar or FIVE dollars, just as the notion
takes the native artist In wood, and
no matter what il Is, the money is
promptly handed over. The natural
result is "boom" in antiquities and
Alaskan biiouterie. The photogra-
pliers have also bonanza in the mat
ter of views. Every crag and cre-
vase, every point, headland, glacier,
inlet and island that could be visited
from Victoria to Pyramid harbor is
photographed and the photographers
can't keep up with the demand.
First officer Richardson has some
1- c. ~,.ar-a kLok Aa x.-aI,.1l -.